Abstract: A method to manufacture an elastic laminate is disclosed. Thermoplastic Elastomeric Material (TEM) is selected from a polymer supply and fed into an extruder. The TEM film is extruded by the extruder by passing the TEM polymer through an extrusion die head to form a TEM film layer on a carrier web provided by a carrier supply. The TEM film layer is allowed to solidify on the carrier web, thereby forming a first laminate. The first laminate is stored in a first storage prior to being delivered to a delamination unit, which delaminates the first laminate by separating the TEM layer from the carrier web. The delaminated TEM layer is stretched at least in its Machine Direction (MD) in a stretching station via a plurality of web guide means. The stretched TEM layer is positioned between a first envelope web and optionally a second envelope web prior to being delivered to a bonding unit, which connects them to form a second bonded laminate.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an article that includes a nonwoven substrate, a first film supported by the nonwoven substrate, and a second film such that the first film is between the nonwoven substrate and the second film. The first film includes a first polymer and a pore-forming filler. The difference between a surface energy of the first film and a surface energy of the nonwoven substrate is at most about 10 mN/m. The second film includes a second polymer capable of absorbing and desorbing moisture and providing a barrier to aqueous fluids.

Abstract: A method to manufacture an elastic laminate is disclosed. Thermoplastic Elastomeric Material (TEM) is selected from a polymer supply and fed into an extruder. The TEM film is extruded by the extruder by passing the TEM polymer through an extrusion die head to form a TEM film layer on a carrier web provided by a carrier supply. The TEM film layer is allowed to solidify on the carrier web, thereby forming a first laminate. The first laminate is stored in a first storage prior to being delivered to a delamination unit, which delaminates the first laminate by separating the TEM layer from the carrier web. The delaminated TEM layer is stretched at least in its Machine Direction (MD) in a stretching station via a plurality of web guide means. The stretched TEM layer is positioned between a first envelope web and optionally a second envelope web prior to being delivered to a bonding unit, which connects them to form a second bonded laminate.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an article (e.g., a vapor-permeable, substantially water-impermeable multilayer article) that can include a nonwoven substrate and a film supported by the nonwoven substrate. The film can include a polyolefin grafted with an anhydride, an acid, or an acrylate.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an article that includes a nonwoven substrate, a first film supported by the nonwoven substrate, and a second film such that the first film is between the nonwoven substrate and the second film. The first film includes a first polymer and a pore-forming filler. The difference between a surface energy of the first film and a surface energy of the nonwoven substrate is at most about 10 mN/m. The second film includes a second polymer capable of absorbing and desorbing moisture and providing a barrier to aqueous fluids.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an article (e.g., a vapor-permeable, substantially water-impermeable multilayer article) that includes a nonwoven substrate and a film supported by the nonwoven substrate. The film includes a polyolefin, a nanoclay, and a pore-forming filler.

Abstract: A confinement structure comprises one or more open cells (70) for confinement, in use, of particulate fill materials such as soil, sand or aggregate. The cells (70) comprise walls (72) formed of a composite material comprising a polymeric grid layer laminated to a fabric layer. The walls (72) may be formed from a strip of the composite material comprising one or more living hinges. The cells (70) may be provided with skirt portions (74) that extend from at least some of the walls (72).

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an article (e.g., a vapor-permeable, substantially water-impermeable multilayer article) that can include a nonwoven substrate and a film supported by the nonwoven substrate. The film can include a polyolefin grafted with an anhydride, an acid, or an acrylate.

Abstract: A confinement structure comprises one or more open cells (70) for confinement, in use, of particulate fill materials such as soil, sand or aggregate. The cells (70) comprise walls (72) formed of a composite material comprising a polymeric grid layer laminated to a fabric layer. The walls (72) may be formed from a strip of the composite material comprising one or more living hinges. The cells (70) may be provided with skirt portions (74) that extend from at least some of the walls (72).

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an article that includes a nonwoven substrate and a film supported by the nonwoven substrate. The film can include a first polymer and a polymer that is immiscible with the first polymer. The first polymer can include a polyolefin and the second polymer can include a polycycloolefin, a polymethylpentene, or a copolymer thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides a nonwoven electret web comprising fibers made from a thermoplastic polymer material which comprises a polymer, a first additive (a) and a second additive (b), wherein the first additive (a) comprises a hindered amine and the second additive (b) comprises a metal salt of a carboxylic acid and/or an organic amide derived from a carboxylic acid and an amine. The invention further provides a process for making the nonwoven electret web, a fiber, a process for making the fiber, a multi-layer sheet, and the use of the nonwoven electret web, the fiber or the multilayered sheet as a filter material or as a dust-removing fabric for cleaning purposes.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an article that includes a nonwoven substrate, a first film supported by the nonwoven substrate, and a second film such that the first film is between the nonwoven substrate and the second film. The first film includes a first polymer and a pore-forming filler. The difference between a surface energy of the first film and a surface energy of the nonwoven substrate is at most about 10 mN/m. The second film includes a second polymer capable of absorbing and desorbing moisture and providing a barrier to aqueous fluids.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an article (e.g., a vapor-permeable, substantially water-impermeable multilayer article) that includes a nonwoven substrate and a film supported by the nonwoven substrate. The film includes a polyolefin, a nanoclay, and a pore-forming filler.

Abstract: A moisture vapor permeable, water impermeable composite sheet material is provided which is suitable for use as a housewrap material, and is also useful for other applications such as tarpaulins, or as covers for automobile, boats, patio furniture or the like. The composite sheet material includes a nonwoven substrate and an extrusion-coated polyolefin film layer overlying one surface of the substrate. The nonwoven substrate is comprised of polymeric fibers randomly disposed and bonded to one another to form a high tenacity nonwoven web. The nonwoven substrate has a grab tensile strength of at least 178 Newtons (40 pounds) in at least one of the machine direction (MD) or the cross-machine direction (CD). The extrusion coated polyolefin film layer is intimately bonded to the nonwoven substrate. The film layer has micropores formed therein to impart to the composite sheet material a moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) of at least 35 g/m2/24 hr. at 50% relative humidity and 23° C.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an article that includes a nonwoven substrate and a film supported by the nonwoven substrate. The film can include a first polymer and a polymer that is immiscible with the first polymer. The first polymer can include a polyolefin and the second polymer can include a polycycloolefin, a polymethylpentene, or a copolymer thereof.

Abstract: A cellular confinement system for soil, sand or other filler material comprises a number of sub-assemblies each made up of a plurality of interconnected open cells of fabric material. The sub-assemblies are stackable one on top of the other to provide a structure having at least one generally vertical side or end wall. Each sub-assembly comprises a skirt portion which is arranged to overlap between vertically juxtaposed sub-assemblies in use. The skirt portion substantially prevents or minimizes the escape of finer aggregate material from between the stacked sub-assemblies.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are bicomponent fibers comprising first and second polymer components present in distinct portions of the cross section of the filament, wherein the first polymer component of the filaments is partially crystalline and serves as the matrix component of the filaments and the second polymer component of the filament is amorphous and serves as the binder component of the filaments, and wherein the fibers exhibit a single melting peak as evidenced by a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) trace. Also disclosed herein are methods of making bicomponent fibers and nonwoven fabrics.

Abstract: A confinement structure comprises one or more open cells (70) for confinement, in use, of particulate fill materials such as soil, sand or aggregate. The cells (70) comprise walls (72) formed of a composite material comprising a polymeric grid layer laminated to a fabric layer. The walls (72) may be formed from a strip of the composite material comprising one or more living hinges. The cells (70) may be provided with skirt portions (74) that extend from at least some of the walls (72).

Abstract: A catheter anchoring system, apparatus and method for securing a catheter to a patient's skin, having two flexible side members and a cross-member therebetween to which a retaining assembly is mounted. The retaining assembly may hold a catheter hub at an angle for patient comfort. Gripping tabs secure to each retaining assembly side are gripped while advancing a cannula guide needle into the patient's vein and while attaching the catheter hub to a medical accessory, such as intravenous (I.V.) tubing, for increased patient comfort, reduction of the risk in contamination and patient infection, and to more easily and quickly start an I.V.

Abstract: A nonwoven fabric is provided having a plurality of semi-crystalline filaments that are thermally bonded to each other and are formed of the same polymer and exhibit substantially the same melting temperature. The fabric is produced by melt spinning an amorphous crystallizable polymer to form two components having different levels of crystallinity. During spinning, a first component of the polymer is exposed to conditions that result in stress-induced crystallization such that the first polymer component is in a semi-crystalline state and serves as the matrix or strength component of the fabric. The second polymer component is not subjected to stress induced crystallization and thus remains in a substantially amorphous state which bonds well at relatively low temperatures. In a bonding step, the fabric is heated to soften and fuse the binder component. Under these conditions, the binder component undergoes thermal crystallization so that in the final product, both polymer components are semi-crystalline.